The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two suspected cannabis barons with a remarkable seizure of eighteen thousand, two hundred and ninety-four (18,294kg) which is 18.2 metric tons of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis.
The estimated street value of the seized drug is over one hundred and eighty-three (183) million naira.
A Bauchi-based suspected cannabis baron, Mohammed Lawal Bello Mustapha, was apprehended at Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, where he was facilitating the shipment of 7,272kg of cannabis to Bauchi, while 3,072kg of cannabis was traced to the warehouse of another suspected baron, Lucky Akele at Uzebba.
About 7,950kg of cannabis with a few bags of cement as a disguise inside a truck was intercepted at Enweh. The shipment was destined for Maiduguri, Borno State. The truck driver is Zegiru Amadu.
Edo State commander, Wakawa Buba, said that the 18,294kg of cannabis was seized in three operations.
โTwo of the seizures took place at Uzebba, while one was at Enweh, all in the Owan West Local Government Area. All the cases are under investigation and the suspects will soon be charged to court for unlawful possession and dealing in cannabis. They risk a minimum of 15-year sentence if found guilty,โ Wakawa stated.
The driver, in his statement, said he was given one million, three hundred thousand naira to transport the drug to Maiduguri, Bornu State.
โI am a driver with a cement company. It was greed that pushed me to carry the cannabis. They paid me N1,300,000 to carry the drug. It was because of poverty, but l would not do it again if releasedโ Zegiru Amadu stated.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd), while commending the officers who made the arrests, described the seizure as a panacea for peace and positive step towards eradicating drugs from circulation.
โThe NDLEA will continue to work assiduously by consolidating on the gains recorded in the fight against insurgency. Over 15 tons of cannabis would have been taken to the north east if not for the timely interception.
โSeveral crimes are perpetrated under the influence of drugs like cannabis and the agency will not rest until the problems of cannabis cultivation, trafficking and use are drastically reduced,โ Abdallah said.
The agency, according to the NDLEA boss, has declared a total war against cannabis cultivation and promised to deploy adequate resources towards a successful eradication campaign.
